Posts From June 2008

Etude House’s website has been updated with the Summer Collection. The collection does not contain any makeup items but concentrates solely on skincare! I was slightly disappointed to see that no cosmetics were included but after viewing the items released I was intrigued by a few so I’ll be picking these up shortly and reviewing them as soon as I can!

The skincare is relatively good and I’m actually seriously considered ditching Lush for it. I’ve tried a toner and a moisturizer and both were fantastic plus the price is ridiculously cheap! Sadly, I’m unsure of what the products contain as I can’t read the bottle but I’ve had no oily spots as I sometimes get with certain moisturizers. I imagine the alcohol content is relatively low or non existent in the products as I’ve had no problem with dry patches either!

Just the name of the new Collection has me giddy to try it out! Sherbet Cool Party! Wahoo sounds rather refreshing doesn’t it?

The products are range in price from 9,000 to 12,000 won which is a ridiculous low cost of $9-$12 USD and these are GOOD size products mind you!

I’m purchasing the entire line which includes a toner, a gel moisturizer, serum, and a few other bits!

With the promo images pimping out cool, refreshing images, icy pictures, and just general snowy pictures here and there I’m picturing each item to actually have some sort of “cooling” benefits for the hot, humid weather!

The Muse is all over this collection! I normally don’t get so hyper about skincare but this has me positively enthralled!

A big thanks goes out to Laura for helping the Muse out! Laura sent over my stain with a beautiful card that is now gracing my desk!

You can thank her for this review since this new stain is not yet available within the US as of yet!

At first glance the packaging misleads you into believing this is a creamy lip color however its very much a stain! I couldn’t be more thrilled with this as my very favorite product from Bourjous Paris, Bons Baisers de Paris, has long since been gone from our shelves!

The formula is your typical gel like stain that’s a deep rose pigment. These come in a few shade options and I got the deeper shade of pink available. I didn’t find the formula drying in the least. Since this is a gel-like texture it goes on very moist and wet and leaves behind beautiful, pink lips. I love the look of “just bitten” lips or lips that look like I just had a cherry ice pop and this indeed gives me that look!

This is an ideal item for Summer and definately makes its way onto my Summer Makeup Must Have list simply because it’s refreshing, light, extremely long wearing and gives a beautiful burst of color to my lips without being heavy!

I went ahead and got really random by applying it to my cheeks as well as my lips. I’m happy to report it doubles up as a killer cheek stain. Although I’m somewhat grossed out by using one product on my lips and cheeks (as you may have already read my distaste for this from my Stila Cherry Crush Review) I couldn’t resist trying this out. It gave my cheeks a lovely blushing color! I was so taken with it on my cheeks that I may just need a back up bottle to use as a cheek stain!

Un-blended

Blended

I’m thinking at this price you can easily use it as a Benefit Benetint or Posietint dupe! You get almost identical results plus it’s much, much cheaper! This was available on sale at Boots for £5.75 and will likely cost between $12 and $16 USD when it arrives on our side of the pond.

All in all Bourjois Paris has another winner on it’s hands! Rouge Hi-Tech definately gets a hearty Muse Approval!

The Muse is loving the cost, loving the fresh look it creates, and really loving the packaging! What’s not to like!

This morning I did a quickie FOTD using Bourjois Paris Hi-Tech Rouge on both my lips and my cheeks. I did two versions of the photo which shows me wearing the stain with and without gloss. I think the gloss really makes the color of the stain pop!

Shu Uemura’s ridiculously gorgeous Summer Collection is available now for purchase and I can’t help but drool over all the yummie palettes released! I wants them all!

This collection isn’t actually a Summer Collection but the Birthday Collection. Each year a special Birthday Collection of LE items is released to celebrate the anniversary of Shu Uemura! They went all out with the collection this year and I’m yearning for everything released!

Three palettes were released, two shades of limited edition shimmer eyeliner, and three Eau de Toillete Sprays. It’s quite a luxurious selection of goodies as you might tell from the price tags on both the palettes and the sprays!

Each spray is $85 USD each for 1.7 oz bottle! Ouchie! I haven’t yet smelled these but I have a feeling they are probably worth the hefty price tag! Hey, sometimes you have to pay the big bucks for beauty!

Each palette is $65 USD and contains a serious array of awesome colors. Personally I think the price is justified as the palette contains quite a few shades and you can get plenty of different looks out of each!

As I mentioned each Eau de Toillete is available in three separate scents and is made from natural origin fragrance and pure deep sea water. The fragrance selection is as follows:

Fleur de RoseFresh Floral Amber

Fleur de SourceRefreshing Floral with Spicy Notes

Fleur de TerreFresh Floral with Woodsy Notes

Each bottle is 1.7oz and $85 USD each and available now at your local Shu counter or Shu Uemura’s website!

As interesting as the Eau de Toillete’s sound the real gems for me are the palettes! They are simply gorgeous and I’m dreaming up different ways to use mine! I only got one so far but I plan on purchasing the other two shortly! Each palette contains seven shades in a slim yet elegant compact.

The palette I’m testing out is the Fleur de Source which contains many a fine blue shade. From left to right the shades included are as follows:

A khaki dark green and oceany teal shade

Cherry brown shade and light lime green

Creamy beige and true aqua blue shade

Grayish sky blue shade

All the shades are paired up aside from the grayish sky blue shade which sits alone. I think it’s safe to say that this shade can be combined with any of the shades as a base or color wash to prep the eye prior to using the other deeper shades. The colors are all very vibrant aside from the one creamy, beige color which is light. The colors have a hint of shimmer and have excellent pigmentation.

The palette contains a dual tipped sponge applicator which I appreciate greatly as I prefer a sponge applicator for packing on such pigmented shades! Some people may be disappointed at the lack of a brush but I’m all for a sponge!

The compact is really small and slim but still manages to sport versatility and plenty of product for creating tons of different looks! Seven shades alone will get you seven separate looks just imagine when you start combing the colors? A slew of looks and one slim palette! Cool!

I haven’t seen the other two palettes in person but I think Fleur de Source contains the most vibrant, bolder shades of the three. You know how I adore bolder shades!

The palettes, as I said earlier, are available in three color shade selections which are identically named as the fragrances. They are as follows:

Fleur de RoseContains golds, browns, and more smokey shades

Fleur de SourceContains blues, greens, and bolder shades

Fleur de TerreContains browns, pinks, and golden shades

Each palette is $65 USD and although it seems a high cost it’s actually a pretty good deal considering what good quality the shadows are and the amount of looks you can get from the one palette. Of course my opinion may just be bias as I love me some Shu!

All in all the Birthday Collection is truly smashing! Definitely head on over to your counter for a peek! I’m sure once you see the palettes you’ll want to take at least ONE home!

I did a really simple FOTD using the brightest aqua in the palette and the lime green! Fun right? I’m looking forward to creating other combos with this palette!

I imagine as a Beauty Blogger I’m supposed to boldly go where no man…errr…I mean woman has gone before.

Well in my case I am boldly going where I’ve never gone before! Sorry to disappoint but I’m positive a hundred other Beauty Bloggers have gone down this journey before but the good news is you now have my official take on a subject I detest with a passion.

It’s actually really difficult for me to say “OH MY GOD I HATE THIS” because I actually don’t hate it. I hate the way it made my skin look but that’s me being bias against tanning, bronzing, the sun, etc…etc…..hey you can’t teach an old dog new tricks! I don’t like tanned skin and you won’t change my mind on the subject now pass the SPF 550 and shut up!

Spray, Spray, Spray your way to a beautiful tan!

But….

I will say only good things about this because it has some serious key pro points to it. First of all it’s cheap as day old chips and actually for it’s inexpensive price tag it works. Gasp, shock, WOW!

Honestly, it really does work. $10 USD and you got yourself a killer tan minus harmful UV rays! Wahooo! I’m all over it or I would be if I liked the tanned look. I tested this on the underside of my arm and only applied once. I sprayed it on Sunday night and although the bottle says to keep spraying 1 to 2 times a week to touch up I think I’m good to go as it hasn’t faded since application. This is great news for those of you seeking a long wearing tan but not so good for me as I’m sporting an arm that’s half tanned…can you say goofy?

It’s actually really easy to use which impressed me as this is my first time using a product like this. Exfoliate and spray! That’s it. The spray is a clear liquid which turns into a brown, orangey shade over night (I read a few other reviews that said they seen a color change within 30 minutes but I seen nothing until the next day!). You won’t see the results right away but come morning you’ll be sporting some serious color.

Honestly, one fault is that the color doesn’t entirely look natural but since you’ll likely be using this on your legs mostly and maybe your arms it should be ok plus doesn’t everyone always crow about how slimming your legs appear when tanned! Liquid spray on diet? Waiter, can I has some more of this stuff? I’m not entirely sure I’d recommend it for a very fair skinned girl. I tested it in medium so I’d say take a step down from medium if you’re lighter tone however if you’re medium fair or darker this should look good!

Pros:

Cheap as bloody hell! $9.99 USD and you should be able to do both legs and both arms as well! You might even have a bit left over for touching up!

Applies easy! No mess, quick drying!

Fantastic staying power so far without touch ups!

Cons:

The color is a bit iffy so do a test spot prior to spraying an entire leg and realizing that the shade is so NOT you!

All in all I’m shocked to say that this stuff isn’t as bad as I originally pegged it out to be!

Would I Muse Approve it? No! The Muse does not approve of tanning even if it’s in a spray bottle hehe! Would I use it again? Sure, why not I could afford to look slimming, gorgeous, and tanned….maybe…kinda…..sorta…..

Try it out! You can’t really go wrong for the price and if you enjoy a good tan what better and safer way to look like you just hopped off a plane from Mexico!